Varaha Purana

कदाचिच्छिवरात्र्यां तु भक्तैः पूजामहोत्सवे

At times, on the night sacred to Śiva, during the great festival of worship by devotees,

तत्र काकाः समुत्पेतुरन्ने तस्मिन्बुभुक्षिताः

There, crows, hungry for food, flew up towards that offering.

तावुभौ युध्यमानौ तु कुण्डे तस्मिन्निपेततुः

Both of them, while fighting, fell into that pit.

तत्र हंसौ ततो भूत्वा निर्गतौ चन्द्रवर्चसौ

There, they became two swans, radiant as the moon, and emerged from it.

हंसतीर्थमिति प्रोचुस्ततःप्रभृति सत्तमे

From that time, O noble one, it has been called 'Hamsa-tirtha'—the holy place of the swans.

पूर्वं यक्षकृतं तत्तु यक्षतीर्थमिति स्मृतम्

Formerly, it was made by a Yaksha and was known as 'Yaksha-tirtha.'

तत्राऽथ मुंचते प्राणाञ्छिवभक्तिपरायणः १४४.

There, then, a devotee wholly dedicated to Shiva gave up his life.

एवं प्रभावं तत्तीर्थं महायोगिप्रभावतः

Such is the power of that sacred place, due to the greatness of the great yogi.

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं क्षेत्रं गुह्यं वसुन्धरे

All this, O Earth, I have told you—the secret holy field.

गुह्यानां परमं गुह्यं किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

Of all secrets, this is the highest; what else do you wish to hear?

अथ सालग्रामक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् भगवन्देवदेवेश सालंकायनको मुनिः

Now, the glory of the Salagrama field: O Lord of gods, the sage Salankayana—

श्रीवराह उवाच तप्यमानो यथान्यायं पश्यन्वै सालमुत्तमम्

Sri Varaha said: Performing austerities as prescribed, he beheld the excellent sala tree.

अभिन्नमतुलच्छायं विशालं पुष्पितं तथा

Unbroken, of incomparable beauty, vast and blossoming as well.

ऋषिर्ज्ञानपरिश्रान्तः सालंकायनकोऽद्भुतम्

The sage Salankayana, weary from his pursuit of knowledge, saw that wondrous tree.

ततो दृष्ट्वा महासालं परिश्रान्तो महामुनिः

Then, seeing the great sala tree, the great sage, exhausted, paused.

सालस्य तस्य पूर्वेण स्थितः पश्चान्मुखो मुनिः

To the east of that sala tree, the sage stood facing west.

ततः पूर्वेण पार्श्वेन तस्य सालस्य सुन्दरि

Then, O beautiful one, on the eastern side of that sala tree—

दृष्ट्वा मां तत्र स मुनिस्त पस्वी संशितव्रतः

There, seeing me, that sage, steadfast in his vows, gazed intently.

मत्तेजसा ताडिताक्षः शनैरुन्मील्य लोचने

Struck by my radiance, he slowly opened his eyes.

वृक्षस्य दक्षिणे पार्श्वे गतस्तावदहं धरे १४५.

I went to the southern side of the tree, O Earth.

स्थित्वा मत्प्रमुखे चैव स्तुवन्नेवं मम प्रियम्

Standing before me, he praised me in this way, which was dear to me.

स्तोत्रैः सम्पूज्यमानो हि गतोऽहं पश्चिमां दिशम्

Being worshipped with hymns, I went to the western direction.

यजुर्वेदोक्तमन्त्रेण संस्तुतः पश्चिमां गतः

Praised with mantras from the Yajur Veda, I went to the west.

तत्रापि सामवेदोक्तैर्मन्त्रैस्तुष्टाव मां मुनिः

There too, the sage praised me with mantras from the Sama Veda.

प्राप्तश्च परमां प्रीतिं तमवोचमृषिं तदा

Having attained the highest joy, I then spoke to that sage.

तपसानेन सन्तुष्टः स्तुत्या चैवानया तव

Pleased by this austerity and also by your praise,

एवमुक्तः स तु मया सालंकायनको मुनिः

Thus addressed by me, the sage Salaṃkāyana,

ततो मां भाषते देवि स ऋषिः संशितव्रतः

Then, O goddess, that sage of firm vows spoke to me.

पर्यटामि महीं सर्वां सशैलवनकाननाम्

I wander over the whole earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves.